The Silence Of The Lambs & The Greater Silence Of The Establishment Controlled Media

In the early Monday morning hours, the Catalan Government issued statements saying that about 2.3 million Catalans, (42.3% out of 5.3 million eligible voters), of those, 90% cast a ‘yes’ ballot for Independence. Without the violent interference of the ‘national’ Spanish police and civil guard, the Catalan Government estimated that at least 80% of all eligible voters would have cast their ballot.

Clearly, the Spanish Government’s demonstration of ruthless and brute force was, and is, a reminder that in Europa fascism is alive and well, that the spirit of Generalissimo Franco of Spain is not dead. Brussels, miserable, spineless puppets to the transatlantic empire and the European oligarchy, remained shamefully silent – arguing it was a Spanish internal affair, as if Spain, a full member of the EU isn’t a European Union’s ‘internal affair’.

At the end of the day of the Referendum on the first of October, President Rajoy had the audacity to declare literally that there was no referendum taking place in Cataluña. He congratulated and thanked the Spanish police for protecting law and order in Barcelona and elsewhere in Cataluña and their upholding of the Spanish Constitution. Yet snippets (mostly from the ‘alternative’ media) showed and reported all-day long violent police battles against peaceful voters. The forceful, riot-clad Spanish police smashed windows and broke into schools where voting booths were located, attempting to prevent voters from voting; they also removed and destroyed ballot boxes.

At the end of the day nearly 1,000 people – 844 officially – were injured by the ‘national’ police force, deploying extreme violence, by utterly harmful and potentially deadly rubber bullets and batons smashing indiscriminately into non-violent unarmed voters (the “lambs”), including elderly people, women and children.

There were hundreds of thousands of people, whole families who came with their children to this historic event, some camping since Friday in the schools to make sure that their right to vote was protected.

Since the Catalan police decided a hands-off policy, not to interfere with the referendum, but rather to protect the voters from possible violence, the fascist Rajoy Government sent in police and the civil guard from other parts of Spain to prevent the vote from taking place. Their brutal and excessive violence against unarmed voters was shocking. They clearly had firm instructions to employ their brutality from their masters in Madrid – the very masters that later congratulated them for carrying out their duties. It was a horrible sight to see, especially from those of us who can sympathise with our fellow Celts (The Celtic response to the referendum in Catalonia on independence from Spain) who like us are struggling for their freedom from colonial rule.

President Rajoy lauding the violent police that left hundreds of inured, many seriously wounded, is yet another testimony that fascism and Fascist mentality of some states in Europe is alive and well, and seemingly increasing. Franco’s blood must be running in Rajoy’s veins. Brussels, the headquarters of the European Police state – of the growing European military regime – already today engulfing the bulk of the 28 EU member states, concurred with this violence by remaining disgracefully silent. How much of the true news about this deplorable event did you hear from the British Bullshit Corporation and other conforming ‘official’ puppet news outlets controlled by the governments?

Let’s look a bit closer at some of the reasons behind this horrendous crackdown on people who were merely intent on expressing their opinion – a full human right, according to the UN Charter.

Cataluña with a population of about 7.5 million (out of Spain’s 46 million) and a surface area of about 7% of Spain’s 506,000 km2 contributes about 20% to Spain’s economic output, produces 25% of Spain’s exports, receives 23.5% of Spain’s foreign tourist revenue, and 57% of Spain’s foreign investments. There is a lot to lose by Cataluña’s secession. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Re. North Sea oil, Welsh coal, water & steel, etc.

Cataluña today receives about 1,800 euros per capita in tax devolution from Madrid, but contributes at least double that amount to the Spanish Treasury. This imbalance has long been a sore thumb in the relations between Barcelona and Madrid. But Rajoy’s PP (Partido Popular) Government has always staunchly refused any dialogue for more autonomy and more financial justice. We in Cymru get Objective 1 handouts from Brussels, they go to Westminster, the money is raided and manipulated and what gets handed over to us does not reflect the amounts we are supposed to get. Add to that what’s then stolen by Charismatic Carwyn & Co. for pet projects and handouts to the third sector cronies and finally what’s jackaled by ‘consultants’ and it doesn’t take a lot of neuron power to realise why our impoverished areas continue in the same boat of abstract hopelessness.

Spain’s northern Basque Region fought for decades (1959-2011) for independence. The Spain-ETA armed political conflict, also known as the Basque National Liberation Movement, caused hundreds of violent deaths. When they finally reached disarmament and a peace agreement in 2011 with the central government in Madrid, they settled for a considerably fairer fiscal agreement with Madrid.

Looking at history, Cataluña became part of Spain in the 15th Century under King Felipe VI and Queen Isabella. In the 20th Century, under the Spanish Republic, Cataluña with, like us, her own culture and language, received full autonomy in 1932. It was abolished by Franco, when he came to power in 1938. After Franco’s death in 1975, Cataluña regained temporary autonomy which lapsed in 2006, when a Spanish High Court challenged the Statute of Autonomy and ruled some articles of the Statute ‘unconstitutional’. That was the time when the most recent Catalan Independence Movement began. Since then several mock referenda took place, including the latest in 2014, when 80% of those who voted (about 30% of eligible voters) opted for independence.

The 1st of October 2017 Referendum was the first serious attempt at secession since 2006. Though not conforming with the Spanish Constitution, the forceful and violent suppression of the people’s freedom of expression – was a grave human rights abuse. It will most likely backfire – badly. I hope it does.

This fierce oppression by Madrid, the unwillingness for dialogue, has definitely turned most Catalans against Madrid and for independence. A few weeks ago the polls in Cataluña indicated a close call with a slight edge for those who wanted to remain with Spain. After threats from Madrid for weeks and the violent police crackdown of this latest election, at least 80% of eligible Catalan voters now seek independence. A similar trend could be found within Spain. A couple of months ago, 10% to 20% of Spaniards were neutral or favoured independence for Cataluña. After this police fiasco, close to half of Spaniards are in solidarity with their Catalan neighbours and support Cataluña’s independence. Perhaps there’s a lesson there for those of us struggling to gain our own independence.

The fight is by no means over after Madrid’s violent attempted oppression of the vote. History’s course is often changed by just one event. What will be ours one wonders?

Addendum

Brychan’s comment below, with a link to a speech by Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy deserves more than just a link. Here’s a video clip of it directly embedded into this post:

Didn’t hear anything like that from the British Bullshit Ccorporation or any of the other ‘mainstream’ government (false) media outlets did you? Do you wonder why? Or are you still sleep-walking with your hands over your ears?

Post navigation

79 thoughts on “The Silence Of The Lambs & The Greater Silence Of The Establishment Controlled Media”

Taggart

Whatever your views on Catalan (or Scottish or Welsh) separatism, it is clear that in order to enact a change in anyone’s national situation, democracy alone is not enough. Referendums lend legitimacy, but “talks”, “dialog” are as useless as sitting in a circle and singing “Kum by Yah”. Men need to get angry and take action that make others angry, of course “non-violence is the only way” only a fool would publicly suggest otherwise. It was interesting that the Catalan referendum was about national identity and self determination, very little mention of “what would we do for a currency”, “what would the EU think”, “what if we’re a wee bit worse off”. A lot to think about for nationalists in Scotland and indeed Wales.

It’s true that “very few countries or politicians on the planet will step up and publicly condemn Spain at the moment”. This is because the action taken by the Spanish central government so far can be fobbed off as a ‘little internal difficulty’.

It should be remembered that Catalonia has already voted for independence many times in the last few years in ‘advisory referendums’. This ‘real’ referendum has been planned for some time, as has Madrid’s response. No doubt there have been ‘diplomatic’ discussions with other countries over what response would be acceptable.

It should be noted that it would have been physically possible (but not politically possible) for Madrid to issue the Guardia Civil with live ammo, include water cannon, helicopter gunships, APCs, and the Juan Carlos aircraft carrier off Barcelona. This has not happened (yet), this is because if they did that it would definitely have prompted an international response.

There has been a statement from the European Commission which has NOT been reported in the official media, it says “violence is not the solution”, which is diplomatic speak for ‘Spain, if you escalate, then the EU will respond’. It’s also the reason why Spain deployed agent provocateurs hoping to open the ‘anti-terrorism’ gambit.

No doubt the Madrid government has been told ‘don’t shoot’, on the other hand, other countries with independence movements like the United Kingdom would have given the advice ‘go do something’. But all that’s happened is to consolidate the will of the Catalan people. Spain must negotiate an independence settlement. They have no choice. I suspect they will suspend article 155 and call an ‘official referendum’ and try using all the powers of the state to win it’, just like Scotland.

Thing is Spain knows that no matter what they do, Catalonia will still vote for independence, hence the Mexican standoff. In the meantime, it’s important for any loyal Welsh person to make arrangements in Wales to provide safe refuge for any Catalan activist should Madrid get hot-headed, go off-script, and do something silly.

I have an excellent recipe for allioli. It goes well with cockles and bara lawr. Might even invest in a bottle of Malbec.

An interesting point was raised by someone (his name evades me) today in a radio interview.

He pointed out that negotiations, when one or both parties lay down pre requisites for discussions never get anywhere. Sinn Féin from 1972 up until the time the Northern Ireland Peace Agreement discussions started taking place were prohibited from taking part in any talks. The result was a bloody campaign – anyone with half a firing neuron could have foreseen that. It was a ploy by the British establishment to forcibly get their way by making ridiculously weighted stipulations. The same applies to the Spanish government; they refuse discussions unless it’s on their terms, and within the remit they dictate. Hence there have been no discussions with Cataluña.The next stage – the result of that superior/ arrogant colonial mentality – is also obvious to anyone who has a knowledge of history. Not ONE meaningful agreement regarding these issues has ever been successful when one party to the discussions freezes out the other party. Be it on their own stupid colonial Spanish heads.

No mention of currency? You listened too much to the Brit arguments for a ‘no’ vote in the Scottish referendum, they were obsessed with the ‘currency’ subject, which was a side show. In exactly the same way as immigration and the economy were side shows in the EU referendum. It hides the real issues.

Any country can decide whatever currency they want to attach themselves to – even if it’s pretty stones or seashells. The important thing primarily is to break free, you can discuss everything else later. Bear in mind how much Spain depends on the riches of Cataluña for their economy.

Diolch, Gwilym. There seems to be a sort of sliding scale of will/power when demanding independence from the capitals of former Empires, British or Spanish
Top – armed force. In the British Empire, dealing with whites, we have pretty trivial examples in the scale of things. Remember when America was 13 colonies, North Carolina (where I am now) being one? Similar to Ireland: lot of civil disobedience. Cornwallis (Battle of Guilford Court House in NC), General Post Office in Ireland + what followed. Nasty on one level but smoothed over and embarrassing in retrospect. Not being suggested for Wales!
Middling – riot police, nobody dies. As in Catalunya. Very unpleasant considering its 2017 and we are all in the EU (and we’re going to stay, OK?). But do not underestimate the need for guts, willpower, pride and outrage in what the Catalans have done, and endured.Requires intention and backbone! Again, not being suggested for Wales.
Piddling – a united expression of national will. As in – Welsh Labour stands up to London Labour. And demands, say, Dominion Status ie lots of independence but not 100%, and we keep the Queen and stay in the Commonwealth. Nice and soft and squishy and all very British Constitutional ie Black Rod and Cap of Maintenance nonsense, but acceptable after private hiccups in NO.10. Dominion Status is as clear as mud, compared with Statehood ie a Convention followed by written Welsh Constitution but, hey, this is the land of Majesty, mystery and still not adjusting to winning the Battle of Britain but still coming second in Europe. Say Labour demanded Dominion Status. The whole rotten house of cards that is modern Britain, with its hang-ups about Brexit and political correctness and don’t want to lose Scotland, its non-existent Constitution – this would all collapse. So all Labour has to do is unite in Wales and demand. No armed force, no riot police. Maybe block the Severn bridge for 10 minutes, that’d be about it. If Labour stood up to Labour, a piddling expression of Welsh National will – we’d as near as dammit be independent. But are we Catalans in the rain………

However, you REALLY need to rethink your stance on the EU though. Look at the bigger picture Jonathan, and ask yourself what the actual function of the EU REALLY is – in the context of the creeping agenda to form a (Fascist/ totalitarian) New World Order, administered politically by an Anglo American political structure and the muscle provided by the US & NATO. Where do YOU see us in Cymru fitting into THAT big picture? I would say vanished off the face of the earth – forever – despite how loudly we sing “Yma o hyd”! That’s why it was so critically important to sever ourselves from the EU, thank goodness we did, albeit for the wrong reasons amongst the many.

That’s why the people of the continents need to stop the march of the ‘regions’. The plan is to one day join those regions up, in turn that will herald in a new world order, through an authoritarian world government (which will replace sovereign nation-states and extinguish the freedom of the peoples who used to belong to those nation-states).

Check out the neoconservative agenda, that was established in the spring of 1997 and funded largely by the energy and arms industries, it’s called the Project for the New American Century (PNAC). It was founded as the neoconservative think tank whose stated goal was to usher in a “new American century” (The New World Order, one government one military). Read up on it, it’s quite an eye opener.

The EU is not some ‘evil empire’ edifice with some kind of ‘fascist’ agenda. It’s not totalitarian and despite the claims of Kippers and other nutters, it’s actually quite democratric. Sure, the EU Commissioners aren’t elected democratically, but neither are the House of Lords. It’s well known that the whole New World Order stuff is the product of overactive imaginations of either the not very bright, or the imaginations of some who should know better, but who want to hoodwink the terminally gullible into believing this kind of deluded crap.

Seriously, do you believe half the crap you spout Gwilym bach? Think about it for a moment. Do you really think for a moment that the world could be made to come under one government for the whole planet? Plenty have tried, but empires, and this is essentially what we’re talking about here, tend to fall apart as soon as they come together. 50 years after the apex of the British Empire, the whole thing had pretty much collapsed, indeed the seeds of that collapse were planted pretty much before it came into being in the first place. There is also the effects of entropy, which pretty much ensures that anything created by humans will eventually fall apart once the momentum for the survival of those creations stalls. This is as true of the EU, which will eventually morph into something else. And anyway, just how is this New World Order supposed to enforce it’s will exactly? About the only body anything like capable of doing that it pretty ineffectual at the best of times, the UN, though supposedly a world body, is too subject to the whims of individual sovereign states to be as effective as it could be.

The EU will continue, in pretty much the form it exists as present, with perhaps some changes that will serve to maintain national sovereignties, and perhaps move more towards confederation rather than ‘ever closer union’ which is popular with virtually no-one, (except the tinfoil hat brigade) least of all countries like France. This European super-state is stuff dreamed up by Little Englanders of the Tory Party and the Kippers, not that they believe their own propaganda for a moment, but it’s just the kind of stuff to feed the gullible and the stupid. The EU is far from being a perfect organisation, it’s made up of people FFS, so no wonder it’s a bit of a clusterfuck!

I think you need to go off and do a little more research, as The Project for the New American Century closed it’s doors in 2006, and it’s successor body, the Foreign Policy Initiative is at this point in time in the process of winding down, so no dice there. That leaves you with just eternal,evergreen, but still just as barmy New World Order rubbish.

Keep taking the tablets, and perhaps invest in some thicker tinfoil for your hat.

Let’s start with a world empire, or the domination of humanity. Yes, there have always been those who’ve dreamed of it, but they failed, mainly because the world was too big. But today, with global communications and it soon being possible to travel from Paris to Shanghai in an hour or so, plus an integrated global economy, world unification is already happening, but it isn’t being done by military conquest.

What matters therefore is how this increasingly unified world is organised. Will it be a free association of sovereign nation-states or will it be a collection of blocs run by people we didn’t vote for who are in turn influenced by the likes of George Soros?

Moving on to “ever closer union” which you seem to think is a fantasy of kippers and those in tinfoil hats. Ever closer union and a European army are on the cards, they have been articulated again recently so why insult people by saying they make these things up?

As for tablets, I suggest you stop taking whatever prompts this insulting nonsense.

I was just settling down with my elevenses coffee, to respond to our ‘newbie’ blind defender of the New World Order and it’s infant region the EU.

However you beat me to it Jac. So I will not validate her comment with a direct response, there’s not much I can add to what you’ve just said, it just about sums it up short and sweet. Singing to the deaf and blind – not to mention the brainwashed, more especially the more condescending and rude types is a total waste of my precious time.

Nevertheless, what I would add is that the US military receives more funding than the rest of the 10 largest militaries in the world combined (China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, U.K., France, Japan, India, Germany & South Korea). Does anyone truthfully believe that getting on for a trillion dollars yearly (that’s right – TRILLION $)on armaments spending is required to keep a few unruly Arabs in place? In fact the Arab problem is one that has been artificially created to fracture that region.

Jac is right, the world has shrunk when it comes to technical connection and physical travel. The comparing of empires and their efficiency, power and influence from the 19th century and earlier to what is unravelling before our eyes today is like comparing the stone age with space travel. At the turn of the 20th century it would take a soldier the same amount of time to cross Europe as it did in Roman times.

So what do you think this military might is actually purposed for? It’s to keep an unelected and dictatorial world government in force and the people totally controlled under it.

Sadly many don’t see this because they are blinded and brainwashed by the view of events and the perceived reality that is projected for them. Anyone who has the audacity to reveal what is actually happening are ridiculed, told they are ‘conspiracy theorists’, Kippers or some other slur/ insult about taking tablets or wearing tin foil hats. For those people there’s a rude awakening around the corner, whilst they are still bowing down to worship the beast that is about to devour them.

If you want a glimpse of what is planned you could do worse than read Orwell and watch the film Hunger Games based on the books written by Suzanne Collins.

In this upside down and inside out PC world of ours, isn’t it strange that it’s the researchers who are told to do more research by those who only listen to the mainstream news and watch soap operas.

When you consider what kind of things are under development such as robot soldiers; drones that could fly up your nostrils; face recognition filming amongst other goodies it seems rather naïve to believe that those in control of said things won’t be using them in order to control.

And I suppose the reason that empires have collapsed in the past is precisely what you Susannah are criticizing here…..people who didn’t go along with and believe in the project.

Incidentally, I voted remain. But the decision as to whether to vote to remain or leave was on a knife edge. My reasoning was that Wales was more likely to vote remain than England which would cause some sort of schism. If there would be another vote I think I would vote leave especially due to the EU’s response to events in Catalonia.

Good grief ! There was a time when news items published in the DT could be taken seriously but that time is long gone.
The Telegraph is now merely the voice piece of its owners and seeing as they are non-resident, barking right-wing, filthy rich, overprivileged Brexiters it is little wonder that there’s panic on display from an Oberstscheissenmund.
I do hope that you’re not turning into a Welsh Nigel Fartage.

Well, if you continue to link pieces from the Daily Getelarph as ‘proof’.
Oh heavens, a European army to defend borders from possible Russian expansion or other outside aggression – The horror, the horror.
Of course, with Trump’s reluctance to commit to NATO in the same way as previous US Presidents, combined non-American armed forces become more likely
Hells bells, weren’t there instances in early sci-fi novels of military forces joining together to combat alien invasions? Quick, get on the phone to the DT newsroom, Breitfart’s English desk and Kipper Central.

I didn’t claim it was a figment of anyone’s imagination.
What baffles me is why you seem to think that a combined armed force from EU nation states is a threat to EU citizens when NATO isn’t.
Please return to solid ground and note that, currently, the biggest threat to the people of Britain comes from the Tory/DUP Government.

Oh, you see a Napoleon figure with complete control over everything.
Well, I’m not saying that it couldn’t happen but if it does it would not be in accordance with the Lisbon Treaty and it seems so far fetched that it’s tin foil hat stuff. Oh yes, the Danish SAS taking orders to do some localised head kicking in Towyn. /lol/

No doubt there are many who have previously viewed the European Union as a ‘cuddly club of human rights democrats’. Their inaction over the rights of the people of Catalonia to express their will through the ballot box may well have shattered this illusion. It’s important to understand what kind of institution the EU really is, and to do this we need to look back to 1991 where a similar situation arose over the succession of Slovenia.

It’s important to note that the first reaction of the EU is shown at 8.22. Whilst it’s unlikely that Spain will send in a column of tanks after Catalonia declares succession as the events in Slovenia show that this is known blind alley as tanks need fuel and are only a sledgehammer used in advance of infantry. I doubt if the EU will sanction such a move. Key to obtaining independence is international recognition.

In the case of Croatia it should be noted that Germany favoured recognition but France and the United Kingdom opposed. In fact the United Kingdom proposed a resolution at the United Nations to prevent German recognition. They were defeated by Italy and Denmark who supported Germany. The UK backed down on 14/12/1991 and on 19/12/1992 Iceland also recognised Slovenia as an independent state, closely followed by Sweden. The rest is history.

So who will be the first to recognise Catalonia?

Ireland? It should be noted that the reason why the United Kingdom and France initially opposed the recognition of Croatia and Slovenia is because they have their own internal issues of self-determination, namely, Brittany, Basque, Scotland and Wales.

I suggest that there needs to be a ‘Dublin Summit’.

I cannot see the view of the United Kingdom as a whole being of any relevance; it’s already alienated all other EU states, and is heading for Brexit (whatever that is). It’s now important that Scotland and Wales now make their voices heard. Of course, if Russia recognises Catalonia, then there’s a whole new dimension. Such a possibility might concentrate the minds of Angela Merkel and the ‘other’ small nations in the EU.

An interesting and informative article, unfortunately spoiled by the usual obsessive little rant about Europe.

I must say I find it a bit contradictory that you are now condemning European neo-Facists for their activities in Spain but only a few months ago you were having wet dreams about an equally right wing Marine Le Pen striding to victory in France.

This was all very amusing for those of us who understood that Le Pen had more hope of winning the European Song Contest than she ever had of becoming President of France, but adds little to your credibility as a political commentator.

Very few countries or politicians on the planet will step up and publicly condemn Spain at the moment, because, whether social media find it convenient or not, it is currently an internal Spanish problem and has a long way to run before others get involved publicly.

Take Jeremy Corbyn for example. Did he climb on his little soapbox and invoke the spirit of the International Brigades to defend Catalonian democracy?
Did he call for his fellow international socialists to condemn the violence?
Did he call for protests on the streets to show support for the oppressed?

No he didn’t. He went and asked the leader of the Tory party to have a quiet word.

Yes, that’s the same Tories who unleashed riot police, mounted police and solders dressed in police uniforms against striking miners back in the good old days, to which the anti-Europe brigade (mention no names) want us to return.

But there’s no anti-EU mileage in that, so we’ll just ignore it – shall we?

I know you’ll find it difficult to believe that 430 million slavering and misguided Euro-facists are so obsessed by their burgeoning economy and their globally influential currency that they dare think they have a better democratic system than our beloved and cherished British two party state, run so efficiently by our much cherished Establishment (aka rich bastards), but I’m afraid that’s the case.

No point using Catalan crisis as an apology for EU. This crisis sets it clearly in context – the EU having a strong institutional preference for the status quo within its membership but happy to connive with others to dismember states outside of its membership.

Sometimes they have their own crisis when old allegiances and friendships get in the way for a while. Croatia was a good example with Germany polarising to its defence p.d.q as Croatian leaders had links to old Ustasa members who had aided Adolf with great enthusiasm some 50 years earlier. UK and France had bonds with Serbia from same war, but when they realised that Serbia was an obstacle to a new “vision” they created a bogey man overnight when in fact he was a small time hood who could have been “done” within weeks had they been so inclined. So it’s all about the lying,scheming major powers and what happens to suit them. They will shit themselves over Catalonia because if that works to fruition what odds on Northern Italy, Walloonia, even Wales or Scotland,which could lead to a real Europe of the regions.

Personally I just love seeing empires crumble so I’m all in favour of it !

I can well see the logic of this to the big nations in the EU with their own simmering separatists, but what has shocked me, more than the actual events in Catalonia themselves, is the apparent lack (correct me if I’m wrong, please) of any condemnation of Spain or support for the Catalans from all the small nations of Europe, many indeed scarcely a generation away from their own often ‘illegal’ move to independence. The Baltics for example, and further back, Ireland. In fact the only people speaking out for the Catalans seem to be UKIP! Enough to make you give up on the EU and support Brexit after all. At least for once I’d have the satisfaction of being on the ‘winning’ side — LOL!

What you observe is the lack of coverage by the British media to events, not the events themselves. There has been huge condemnation of the Spanish government from many, if not all of the ‘independent small nations’ of Europe. The BBC has of course ignored this.

No doubt you’d have seen the cracking strike by Lawrence to give us the critical victory over Georgia. Live on S4C where the telly tax paid in Wales is often reported as the BBC handing a “subsidy” to Welsh language broadcasting.

The question everyone was asking as to what happened elsewhere in the group qualifiers?

Daryl Murphy’s brace kept Ireland’s World Cup ambitions alive Ireland enjoyed a facile 2-0 victory over Moldova in Dublin. No live feed or updates were broadcast in Wales. We have hand over our telly tax to the BBC to help them broadcast the England group games through to Welsh screens.

As for ‘Just call me Jase’ of BBC Wales – While you fly back to your beloved Manchester, just stay there. Then we can use our cash that is currently being handed over to the BBC to get thelive feed from RTE on what’s actually happening in OUR OWN group qualifiers.

Oh dear – another subject we agree on Dafis! At this rate we’re going to arouse suspicions that we’re more than just ‘blog friends’!!!!

Couldn’t agree more with you, the spirit of the late, great Carwyn James (who – bless his little cotton socks – did have more than a friend’s interest in his male associates still lives on at Parc Y Scarlets .

Nevertheless the ‘Llanelli/ Scarlets’ style of rugby has been the template for the way Cymru has always played in their most successful campaigns of the past. Don’t you think someone should have a quiet whisper in Gatland’s ear? He should also be reminded of some of the talent on show down west – no one more so that Steff Evans who should have had a permanent slot in the national team last season (can you explain why Gatland has stuck with lame ducks like Cuthbert and Sam Warburton, when there’s raw and not manufactured talents like Steff and James Davies about). Having said that though, under Wayne Pivac – a Kiwi – that Llanelli Scarlets style has been enhanced and refined on his watch, they are now playing divine rugby in their traditional style.

When you sit down and think about it their style is actually very reminiscence of the way the All Blacks play at present. Long may it continue say I, as a devoted fan of Scarlets and before that Llanelli RFC for over 50 years. I was there in 72 the moment Llanelli beat the All Blacks 9-3, and all the pubs ran dry that night – it’s what legends are built on!

Quote: “Yes, that’s the same Tories who unleashed riot police, mounted police and solders dressed in police uniforms against striking miners back in the good old days, to which the anti-Europe brigade (mention no names) want us to return.”
Are you trying to re-write history? The events happened after the UK had joined. The anti-Europe gangs were peddling stories about the EU interfering with domestic matters during the EU Referendum campaign and they are now criticizing Brussels / Strasbourg for not interfering in Spain.
Those spouting out about Article 7 of the EU Lisbon Treaty and expecting an immediate, rapid response from the EU to Spain’s actions should take a good and long read of it and note the following passages: –
“On a reasoned proposal by one third of the Member States, by the European Parliament or by the European Commission, the Council, acting by a majority of four fifths of its members after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament, may determine that there is a clear risk of a serious breach by a Member State of the values referred to in Article 2. Before making such a determination, the Council shall hear the Member State in question and may address recommendations to it, acting in accordance with the same procedure. The Council shall regularly verify that the grounds on which such a determination was made continue to apply”.
“The European Council, acting by unanimity on a proposal by one third of the Member States or by the Commission and after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament, may determine the existence of a serious and persistent breach by a Member State of the values referred to in Article 2, after inviting the Member State in question to submit its observations”.
“Where a determination under paragraph 2 has been made, the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may decide to suspend certain of the rights deriving from the application of the Treaties to the Member State in question, including the voting rights of the representative of the government of that Member State in the Council. In doing so, the Council shall take into account the possible consequences of such a suspension on the rights and obligations of natural and legal persons.The obligations of the Member State in question under the Treaties shall in any case continue to be binding on that State”.

Yes, that’s the same Tories who unleashed riot police, mounted police and solders dressed in police uniforms against striking miners back in the good old days, to which the anti-Europe brigade (mention no names) want us to return.”

There were no soldiers dressed as police officers used against the miners. This is an urban legend that stems from the military’s obligations under MACC/MACM/MACP/MACA.

During the strike Police were billeted and administered from TA Centres and normal TA training also continued at the same time from the same TA Centres. People saw Police going in and out in uniform and TA soldiers going in and out in mixed dress and civilian clothing.

The use of TA Centres to support the Civil Community, Civil Ministries, Civil Powers and Civil Authorites is not only normal – it’s an obligation by law.

During my last three years in the Forces, I was the Regular Army instuctor (PSI) attached to a TA unit in North West England. I had contingency plans for the TA Centre to be used for natural disaster, pile-ups on the nearby motorway, explosions at the nearby chemical works, a feeding station in case of major power failures, a Crisis Management Centre for the Police, Fire and Ambulance etc etc etc. And in fact we were co-opted once during my tenure by the local council when the kitchens in a nearby old peoples home caught fire and they were initially brought there for safety, then for several weeks all their food was prepared there and taken to the home. TA Centres are also regularly used by the Police as bases when high-ranking VIPs visit an area.

The military involvement in the miners strike was merely the provision of and staffing of nearby TA Centres.

When you say “There were no soldiers dressed as police officers used against the miners”, this is not correct. Serving members of the Royal Military Police were drafted in (Red Caps). These held existing police warrant cards, and under the emergency powers were assigned various duties.

I must say I find it a bit contradictory that you are now condemning European neo-Facists for their activities in Spain but only a few months ago you were having wet dreams about an equally right wing Marine Le Pen striding to victory in France

Comparing apples with oranges again. And there we go once more, Marine Le Pen “equally right wing . . . blah, blah, blah . . . “. Abstract and artificial tags being used to label people. Le Pen’s father may have been more ‘Franco like’ – Marine (who kicked him out of her party) is a Nationalist – period. Anything wrong with that? Her only sin in the eyes of the all powerful elites in the shadows was that she went up publicly and aggressively against the EU. Hence the result we all saw in France. Macron’s love-in with his masters in Europe ensued. An Europe that is hell bent on wiping out the identity of every nation, to form a big grey beast. It stinks. There’s a clue there as to why we’ve had this deafening silence over what happened last weekend involving the Fascist Spaniards, and it’s only just the beginning.

Brychan’s excellent video link regarding Slovenia is a harbinger of what we may see happening very soon in Cataluña.

adds little to your credibility as a political commentator.

Really? I would argue that it’s your naivety, and willingness to swallow state instigated propaganda that’s a cause for concern.

“crypto fascist” – that sounds straight out of the vocabulary of a pseudo socialist self proclaimed “serious left winger”. If you are seriously looking for the inheritors of the Axis Powers’ mindset and ambitions then you need to look more closely at the cluster of goons leading the EU, NATO and their subordinate organisations. These people have some kind of vision – much of it undisclosed to the public – but be assured they are securing the interests of a narrow minority at the expense of the vast majority. And most of our well meaning virtue signalling ” left wingers” are so wrapped up with their own obsessions they can’t see the real monumental threat.

So when the EU rules that you must have a bar code on your arse(or anywhere else it considers readable)just remember that the FN was a local political movement wanting to look after its own turf while messrs Juncker &Co were busy advancing their agenda.

This is going to be interesting times. The EU’s inaction shows that it truly is a mess. Ultimately they’ll have to choose between Spain and the Catalans. If they choose Cataluña then Sardinia and Corsica are surely going to be getting ideas… which effects France and Italy respectively. So… with that in mind they’ll choose Spain. I think this will escalate personally and its one of those situations you don’t really know how. Civil War? Maybe… but can Spain afford that? The chance of Basques joining with the Catalans? Really is one of those situations where the Spanish… not sure what they were thinking. Cataluña outplayed Spain… they provoked with a legitimate cause of action. They also had the flare up of being so nastily oppressed by Franco… and situations like that define nations. Nationalism is like a hedgehog… benign until some one pokes it then it rolls up into a tight ball to protect itself.

I kind of advocate a similar approach for any future nationalist movements here. Make demands that we’ve got a right too… not for Independence… making that our destination is just a waste of time. Making it a solution when our demands for certain things are not met? Yeah thats where we’re going. Us getting used as a penal colony needs to be sorted out but most people are looking towards the international stage… and thats where we need to win them… put on a show. A peaceful one. Least from our side. Now we know it works thanks too Cataluña.

Interestingly about the BBC… the recent situation in Puerto Rico (they actually had a Catalan delegation a few years ago funnily enough) a few of them seemed to think the best source for news other than island based media was the BBC. Lots of misinformation going on there though – Trump trying to pave over his bad handling of it all (was to busy talking about players kneeling at an NFL game). Really saw that Imperialism is still alive on kicking and the media is now its greatest weapon. Literally the guy was throwing budget packets of paper towels into crowds of thirsty, starving people.

Did occur to me that BBC and the British government may have interest in seeing America look bad under Trump though. Britain is coming off the EU/Germany’s leash and oh look Canada has a trade war with the USA (Bombadier)! Add Boris Johnson to the mix, as well as some one like Jacbob Rees-Mogg whose already living in 1850… makes you wonder if they may be having dreams of grandeur.

In 1916 with the Easter Rising in Dublin, it was ‘free newspapers’. The Times was in Amiens.

In 1968 with the tet offensive in Vietnam, it was ‘freelance small camera film’. CNN was in Guam.

In 1991 with the tanks in Ljubljana it was ‘VHS video tape’ while the BBC was in Bonn.

In 2017 we have Twitter.

I couldn’t help laugh when a BBC reporter was doing a piece to camera ‘from their correspondent in Madrid’, when he was interrupted by i-phone footage of some polling station brutality. It was emailed direct to London, from a school.

Not so much an expose, just a sad state of affairs they’re considered the most reliable. Just so much bullshit flying around the situation… just shows its not just the BBC but media as a whole has become cancerous.

Well here is a much considered and, indeed, if I may say so,
erudite response: “Fuck off.” (I spent a lot of time on that). No offense with the language, Royston, but this shite is so pathetic it merits nothing further. Engaging in an economic argument with a 77 Brigader (or. mayhap, a moron) like this bellend would be fruitless. I am amazed this prick could spell ‘savvy”.

Sadly there are clusters of lazy yet comfortable dependency types all over this country. They might either move out or get off their arses and put in some effort in a radically different environment. Indeed the way the Mayhem regime is running the U.K and the lavish goodies Corbyn is promising to unleash if he ever takes over, guys like you are going to be in for a rough ride anyway, so independence might suddenly become a better proposition. Posturing power crazy U.K governments who think nothing of tying up 100’s of billions in a nuclear defence “umbrella” when they really need a big investment in specialised (and Special)forces if they really believe in the “big threat” posed by all sorts of dark forces out there.

Apart from the woolly thinking and corruption in spending there is a major fault in policy. Pampering the NHS while planning privatisation of chunks of it ( the areas where big profits can be made, of course)is akin to fattening the beast ready for slaughter and pays little or no attention to the endemic inefficiencies within that bloated service. Education is going the same way with slack regulation allowing the spivs who run universities to pay themselves like drug barons while the intrinsic quality of higher education goes down the tubes. Fuckin’ marvelous ! and that’s the shit pit you want to stay in.

Looking at the Prime Minister and her Cabinet, not one of them has the ‘savvy’ to run a small ice cream parlour let alone a country. On the other hand, Byron Davies (former Tory MP for Gower) is ideal for a tiny outlet serving coffee and tea.

I think not. His background in the higher echelons of local government makes him well suited for scoffing tea and biscuits but I wouldn’t rely on him to serve it properly without incurring a massive overspend !

Why did you feel the need to specify the nation you were talking about? Surely the word “we” would have been adequate? Maybe you’re suffering some kind of awkward national identity crises? Because the rest of the comment is a huge disconnect with who we are…

Robert, you’re either
A) Totally saturated with evil and lying propaganda that you’ve been exposed to all your life – not your fault.
B) Have an extremely limited knowledge on the subject you’ve chosen to comment on, or
C) as Jac suggests, a Troll with too much time on your hands and with nothing better to do than try to rile others whilst you titter behind your keyboard in your bedroom at any responses you may conjure up.
Assuming it’s either A) or B) then here’s some self adjusting and enlightening information for you that I uploaded to this blog’s server some time ago:http://jacothenorth.net/pics/click_here.png

1) About half the member states of the UN are smaller than Cymru in population, area, or both;
2) If we’re too weak, it’s because our political and media élites have deliberately stunted our growth as a society to create a near-terminal dependency on Greater England and its fifth columnists here;
3) If we’re too poor, then that is an argument for Independence, not against it, because it demonstrates that a country with so much going for it is in the decrepit state it’s in because of colonial governance.
4) For ‘too stupid’, see under ‘too weak’ (above).

Spain’s constitution is a post-Franco compromise. Nearly half of all Catalans weren’t even born when it was ratified in 1978 yet are still expected to acknowledge this dictatorship of the dead.

Given Labour’s record on colonialism (external bad, internal good), it’s really not surprising to see the MP for Rhondda lining up with Rajoy and the fascists. What puzzles me is the contribution from Jonathan Edwards above, imagining ‘Welsh’ Labour demanding the old Plaid Cymru goal of Dominion Status. I find the thought of ‘Welsh’ Labour ever doing anything for Wales most unsettling. Perhaps the idea is that if independence is inevitable it had better be achieved by the current ruling party. Otherwise, there’s a serious risk of quisling snouts being hauled out of troughs and paraded through the streets.

It’s worth remembering that the Spanish Civil War was only partly ideological; something else that motivated the army and the political right was the concessions granted to Basques, Catalans and others by the Republic, which they saw as threatening the unity of Spain.

Which explains why today’s Spanish constitution is a compromise. Once Franco popped his clogs those who had supported him or benefited from his rule knew that concessions had to be made to democracy and minority identities. These they were prepared to concede, but not to the point where they threatened the unity of the state.

In many ways, the situation in Catalunya should – like the Scottish referendum – never have happened because devolution was supposed to kill off thoughts of complete separation.

A correspondent who has been in contact by another medium draws a further comparison, for he sees a parallel with Ireland in 1916. Those who rose at Easter did not have widespread support, certainly not in Dublin, but the brutal reaction of the British authorities virtually guaranteed some form of independence.

Now the Spanish authorities are persuading banks and other businesses to leave Catalunya. It reminds me of a scene from Quebec – during the October 1970 crisis? – where the Canadian federal authorities arranged for Brinks armoured cars to collect money from banks in downtown Montreal and drive off to Toronto.

Same with the Yanks wasn’t it… one third for, one third against and one third neither. Disappointed at the Irish governments response. Pretty much said they support self determination when its done within the law. Not sure how that works when there’s specifically a law against it.

given the fury over football over on IMJ’s site and your tweet re ARG, it should be remembered that no-one has a divine right to be at the World Cup or any other tournament.

Wales had blown their qualification in the early matches giving themselves all that catch-up effort they didn’t want. They still managed to come close which just goes to show how much better it is to rack up a few good results early on to ease that pressure, although it often gives even more momentum to producing a very positive outcome.

As for ARG they have enjoyed success for ages but playing against a bunch of other South American sides with large helpings of talent dictates that the challenge will always be intensive. Our friends over the border found out the other night that you have to take all opponents seriously even those bits of Soviet Russia that weren’t visible in football 30 years ago.

Wales now need to tout for a few friendlies with some of those countries going to the Russian Finals to keep their motor turning and progress to Euro 2020 with a clear sense of purpose, finely tuned (and a fit squad!)

Obvious from the outset that the EU (as distinct from selected MEP’s)was not going to do anything that compromised Spanish regime. Sends out a neat warning to Ms Sturgeon & SNP that they rank lowish in EU concerns as the retention of UK ( stalling then derailing the Brexit process) is the primary goal. As for Cymru, all those dumb folk who expected so much love from EU towards the “emerging nations” can now reflect on their naivety. If you want independence you have to take it and walk away from EU, UK and form new relationships with other emerging nations.

I don’t think this one will go away that quietly. You’re right about pressure from the EU, even if it’s passive pressure by not decrying the actions of Spain.

The ‘official’ (false) mainstream media will try to put a lid on it for their masters; by NOT reporting what is actually happening – in the hope that everyone outside Catalunya will quickly forget about it. That is not what will be really happening outside the general public gaze, a public who will be focused on the season of madness, watching soaps, playing with their toys or watching sports on telly.

There’s an increasing swathe of people who are not that shallow, and far more awake. This creates future challenges both for the UK and the EU. The SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin all sent observers, invited by the Catalan government, as did the Liberal Democrats, whose leader Vince Cable condemned the repression (not that the Lib-Dems are particularly important in this context). Fresh from a tour of the polling stations, Eoin Ó Broin, an Irish parliamentarian for Sinn Féin, was scathing about the EU’s silence:

Nobody expected them to comment on the substance of the referendum,” he said. “But there is a genuine shock here at the absence of condemnation of the denial of the right to have the vote in the first place, and the brutality of the police and the use of digital methods to disrupt the vote. I am shocked that nobody in Brussels thought this was unacceptable.

Interesting times, I hope we’ve got our notebooks out so that we can make notes of how this storm is developing, and how we can learn lessons from it for our future in Cymru.

Would the signatories to the Lisbon Treaty have signed it if Article 7 had give the EU more powers to respond with direct action? See my post on this thread (05/10/2017 16:39) and note that collectively the EU’s hands are tied.
Not that reality mattered to the Brexit Leave advocates during the 2016 Referendum campaign who painted the EU as an authoritarian, all powerful, dictatorship ready to force its will on all.

Which is EXACTLY what it is, or rather, eventually purposes to be, and it’s deploying the “Totalitarian Tiptoe’ tactic to do so. Totalitarianism by creeping steps.

If they jump from 0 – 100 in one step the people’s backlash would be too great. Consequently they do it by increments, stealthily but determinedly. Be assured the end result aimed for is total control, a single totalitarian world, governed by unelected individuals and policed by the military of the UN & USA. It’s as plain as the nose on your face.

Not a bit like Fortress Britain, post Brexit, with Henry VIII Powers to deal with ‘Enemies of the People™’ then, eh?
So, Gwilym, according to you the only thing stopping the EU Member States handing over complete control to the EU was fear of a ‘people’s backlash’? Do you have any proof that has real substance?

Now where is YOUR proof hat post Brexit the UK will be run on Tudor lines? Or for that matter that the UK will be a ‘Fortress Britain’? Perhaps it belongs in the same drawer as the scaremongering done by England regarding Scottish independence post a ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum, or maybe the same drawer as the prophets of doom suggested, when they said the economy would immediately collapse as soon as the Brexit vote came to fruition through a ‘Leave’ vote.

CON’T listen to the mainstream media – you can’t trust it my friend. What you’re being fed by projection is a perceived reality – as they would like you to see things. Actual reality is a different beast.

Check out the Greek saga – a classic example of reaction after being pushed too far.

Hmm.
“The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU brings together in a single document the fundamental rights protected in the EU. The Charter contains rights and freedoms under six titles: Dignity, Freedoms, Equality, Solidarity, Citizens’ Rights, and Justice. Proclaimed in 2000, the Charter has become legally binding on the EU with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, in December 2009.” – European Commission. http://ec.europa.eu/justice/fundamental-rights/charter/index_en.htm
Can anyone prove that the people who brought about the above and those who signed the Lisbon Treaty want a totalitarian state? Seems entirely at odd for would-be dictators to uphold the ECHR doesn’t it?
The people you should distrust are the those who want to quit the ECJ and have their own set of rules on Justice, Citizens’ Rights, Workplace Rights, Disabled Persons’ Rights etc.
It has been the EU and the ECJ that has protected people in the UK from the Tory dream of turning the clock back to the nineteenth century.
2016 and everything so far in 2017 have been nightmarish for those who know how much people in the past fought for the rights that we ordinary people enjoy.
Now, through media lies, slimy political con artists like Farage and crap websites like Farcebook, what was won is quickly being lost.

The vast majority of people in Britain are incapable of critical analysis so when they read a pile of stinking bullshit in their favourite newspaper or watch it perform on TV, they lack the skill to see it for what it is.

btw: Off subject.
Is there any chance of swapping the USA spellchecker on this application for an English lexicon?

The vast majority of people in Britain are incapable of critical analysis so when they read a pile of stinking bullshit in their favourite newspaper or watch it perform on TV, they lack the skill to see it for what it is.

And that’s exactly how the powers that be want it, they encourage and cultivate that mindset continually.

Re. the spellchecking. The spellchecking is done within the browser you are using to browse this site. Check your browser settings to ensure that you are using an English GB dictionary and make the necessary changes in your browser settings, the default setting is usually English US. The site itself has no spellckecking feature, that’s done at the client end. I hope that helps.

.. and the Kurds have a far worse combination of “sovereign nations” to deal with. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran – what a fuckin’ hotchpotch of shithead nation states led invariably by nutjobs with an appetite for posturing,deflection and sustained supression. Thus the Kurds, despite their contribution to the campaigns in Syria and Iraq,become an irritating embarrassment to the Western powers.

Turkey and Iran have long established defined borders although both have harboured ideas about annexing neighboring bits, but Iraq and Syria were “made” as part of the break-up of Ottoman Empire by the Frogs and the Brits, a pair of conniving powers unrivaled for devious unprincipled conduct over the 19th, 20th and into the 21st century. These were a pair of “convenience” creations spawned to prolong the colonialist influence of the 2 old Powers. Time the West recognise that they cocked things up in 1918 and take steps to enable Kurdistan to assume its rightful place among the community of nation states. That is not without its knock on effects but there is no justification in allowing the pigs who run those 4 countries to continue with their dominion over the Kurds.

Turkey was carved out of the Ottoman empire, the country includes so many Kurds because the Kurds were betrayed after WW1.

They were betrayed again after the First Gulf War. Encouraged to rise against Saddam, which they did, and then left to his tender mercies when Uncle Sam turned his back.

The Kurds have finally realised that they can rely on no one but themselves. They now have thousands of troops (male and female) who have seen action, they are well armed, dug in, and there’s no way the Iraqi regime can overcome them without outside help.

Significantly, Israel is very supportive towards the Kurds. They realise perhaps better than the West that the best ally in the region would be a secular and democratic Kurdistan.

It is too late for any admission of faults resulting from the Paris Peace Talks on 1919 as the countries formed after the break up of the Ottoman Empire are acknowledged as sovereign nations and they have seats at the United Nations.

Absolutely right Jac. And furthermore, it should be noted that The Treaty of Sèvres was one of a series of treaties that the Central Powers signed after their defeat in World War I. Hostilities had already ended with the Armistice of Mudros. The treaty was signed on 10 August 1920, in an exhibition room at the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres porcelain factory in Sèvres, France. Crudely put it was a ‘carve up’ by the Empiric powers, predominantly England & france – a disgrace.

The Sèvres treaty marked the beginning of the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire, and its ultimate annihilation. The huge conglomeration of territories and peoples that formerly comprised the Ottoman Empire was later divided into several new states.The Ottoman Empire had been the leading Islamic state in geopolitical, cultural and ideological terms. The partitioning of the Ottoman Empire led to the rise in the Middle East of Western powers such as England’s (British Empire) and France and brought the creation of the modern Arab world and the Republic of Turkey.

The League of Nations mandate granted French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon and British Mandate for Mesopotamia (later Iraq) and British Mandate for Palestine, later divided into Mandatory Palestine and Emirate of Transjordan (1921-1946). The Ottoman Empire’s possessions in the Arabian Peninsula became the Kingdom of Hejaz, which was annexed by the Sultanate of Nejd (today Saudi Arabia), and the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen. The Empire’s possessions on the western shores of the Persian Gulf were variously annexed by Saudi Arabia (Alahsa and Qatif), or remained British protectorates (Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar) and became the Arab States of the Persian Gulf.

A right fucking cock up which was the match that lit the fire, and has resulted in today’s boiling cauldron in the Middle East. But they knew exactly what they were doing – the bastards – in exactly the same way as they knew exactly what they were doing when the preconceived WW1 was planned by them and later WW2. Now the same powers in the shadows are planning WW3. This sounds a bit far flung, but study the history that isn’t recorded in the books. Check out who supplied the dosh for both sides to arm themselves – this is even more obvious when it comes to the Third Reich’s rocket-like build up in the thirties. The big name behind it all? Rothschild.

Then – in context – read up on the Balfour Declaration of 1926. The Declaration was a public statement issued by the British government during WW I announcing support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, then an Ottoman region with a minority Jewish population. It read:

His Majesty’s government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.

The declaration was contained in a letter dated 2 November 1917 from the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Walter Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community, for transmission to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. Surprise, surprise – up pops that name again! Lord Walter Rothschild. The very Rothchilds that own EVERY (privately owned)central bank in the world, including the Federal Reserve Bank and the Bank of England – funny innit?

So to add to the woes in the region, the major ingredient in this toxic horror show soup is Israel – wholly owned and set up by the Zionist Rothschild banking empire. The Jews, Kerds and other groups of people are nothing but pawns moved around on a chess board in the Middle East, by you know who.

Most enlightened Jews will tell you that Zionism has nothing to do with Jews as a nation of people. There is a long tradition of Jewish anti-Zionism that has opposed the Zionist project from its origins. A pity most people confuse the two, but that’s very convenient for those in the shadows isn’t it? Confuse and divide is the order of the day – promoted by the mouthpieces of their obedient puppets, the mainstream (false) media outlets.

Believe nothing, question everything – nothing is what it seems, including the EU in whose mouth butter wouldn’t melt – or at least the more gullible amongst us would have us believe so.

The League of Nations –
Pity that the USA didn’t support it. If the Americans embraced the League with the vigour that Woodrow Wilson had hoped maybe the rise of right-wing authoritarianism might not have been quite as devastating.
The Paris Peace Talks of 1919 –
On a scale never seen before on the face of Earth after a war on a scale never seen before. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was entitled to submit a petition. Ho Chi Minh, a chef in Paris, delivered a petition calling for self-governance in his home country.
It would be an impossible task even now with computer technology to come up with solution that would end all inter-nation conflicts, but they tried with a sincerity that is sadly lacking today.

I do not agree with you on this, Gwilym. Lloyd George, Wilson and Clemenceau knew too well the horrors of the Great War and they were determined to produce a lasting treaty.

As for Greedy Capitalists –
Find a replacement for capitalism that works. Pachacuti built an empire in South America with very little warring and a lot of jawing and not a penny of money. There was no money nor any medium of exchange for goods and services in the land of the Incas.

‘Moral authority’?
It has nothing to do with morals. We haven’t got an internal legal system based on morals so, how on Earth do you expect international morals?
Whose morals: T. May’s, Trump’s, Kim Jong-un’s?